Locking/unlocking system for a lost-motion thrust reverser actuator, and actuator including such a system

Abstract

A locking/unlocking system for a thrust reverser actuator includes a preloading arrangement mounted between a locking part and an input gear of an actuator drive mechanism, the preloading arrangement holding the locking part and the input gear rotationally fixed when a torque between the drive mechanism and the locking part is less than a preloading threshold and decoupling the locking part and the input gear when the torque becomes greater than the preloading torque, a decoupling movement displacing the locking member from a locked position to an unlocked position, the drive movement then being able to be transmitted in order to allow a deployment of the thrust reverser actuator.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A locking/unlocking system for an actuator for a thrust reverser, the actuator comprising a first element and a second element mounted movably in translation and in rotation relative to the first element, a rotation of the first element relative to the second element being configured to translate the second element relatively to the first element, the locking/unlocking system comprising:
 an input gear configured to drive the first element in rotation; 
 a locking part rotationally fixed to the first element; and 
 a locking member movable between a locked position in which the locking member prevents a rotation of the locking part and of the first element, and an unlocked position in which the locking member allows a rotation of the locking part and of the first element; 
 wherein the locking/unlocking system comprises a preloading arrangement, the preloading arrangement allowing a rotation of the input gear relative to the locking part when a torque between the input gear and the locking part is less than a preloading threshold of the preloading arrangement and allowing a driving in rotation of the locking part by the input gear, when the torque becomes greater than the preloading threshold, the preloading arrangement comprising displacing elements configured to allow that the rotation of the input gear displaces the locking member from the locked position to the unlocked position, the driving movement then being transmitted to the first element by the preloading arrangement in order to allow the deployment of the actuator. 
 
     
     
       2. The locking/unlocking system according to  claim 1 , wherein the elements include a cam carried by the locking member, the cam cooperating with a complementary element of the preloading arrangement, the complementary element being configured to tilt the cam and displace the locking member during a decoupling movement. 
     
     
       3. The locking/unlocking system according to  claim 2 , wherein the complementary element cooperating with the cam is a rotary roller mounted on a spindle parallel to the axis of rotation of the locking part, the spindle being rotationally fixed to the input gear. 
     
     
       4. The locking/unlocking system according to  claim 3 , wherein the preloading arrangement includes a flange rotationally fixed to the input gear, the rotary roller being mounted on the spindle which extends between the flange and the input gear. 
     
     
       5. The locking/unlocking system according to  claim 4 , wherein the preloading arrangement comprises several rotary rollers mounted between the flange and the input gear, while being distributed over the periphery of the input gear. 
     
     
       6. The locking/unlocking system according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the preloading arrangement comprises a first flange rotationally fixed to the input gear, the first flange comprising a gearing, the locking/unlocking system further comprising an eccentric geared cam which comprises an eccentric gear, the eccentric geared cam being mounted on a spindle fixed to the locking part, and 
 wherein the eccentric gear is configured to cooperate with the gearing of the first flange, the first flange and the eccentric geared cam being located in the same plane, a decoupling of the input gear and of the locking part being configured to cause a rotation of the eccentric geared cam, the eccentric geared cam cooperating with a surface of the locking member and the rotation of the eccentric geared cam displacing the locking member. 
 
     
     
       7. The locking/unlocking system according to  claim 6 , wherein the preloading arrangement comprises a second flange fixed to the locking part, the spindle of the eccentric geared cam is being mounted between the locking part and the second flange. 
     
     
       8. The locking/unlocking system according to  claim 2 , including a tappet configured to be moved by the decoupling movement. 
     
     
       9. The locking/unlocking system according to  claim 8 , wherein the locking part comprises a housing, the tappet being mounted in the housing, the tappet cooperating with an internally toothed gear, the internally toothed gear being driven in rotation by a pinion gear, the pinion gear meshing with an inner teeth of the internally toothed gear and with teeth rotationally fixed to the input gear, the spindles of the pinion gears being mounted on the locking part, the decoupling movement causing a decoupling of the gear and the locking part, a decoupling of the gear and the locking part causing the translation of the tappet which cooperates with a surface of the locking member, the translation of the tappet displacing the locking member. 
     
     
       10. An actuating device for a thrust reverser, the actuating device comprising:
 an actuator comprising a first element, and a second element mounted movably in rotation and translation relative to the first element, so that a rotation of the first element relative to the second element causes a translation of the second element relative to the first element, and 
 the locking/unlocking system according to  claim 1 .